Staff

Stephanie Bekerman

Stephanie Bekerman

Stephanie Bekerman is a transplant to UMD, originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans in 2015 where she studied marketing and management. As Maryland Hillel’s IACT Coordinator, Stephanie loves everything about Israel from exploring Tzfat to eating delicious rugelach in the Shuk! Stephanie is excited to share Birthright Israel experiences with Maryland Hillel. In her spare time, she is always ready to watch a romcom movie marathon, loves dancing, traveling, and makes latkes like your grandma!

Allison Buchman

Allison Buchman

Allison Buchman is the Associate Director at Maryland Hillel, where she has been on staff in various roles for the past 10 years. Prior to working at Maryland Hillel, Allison worked for BBYO for many years, honing her Jewish education and leadership training skills in both the Michigan Region and Northern Region East. Allison is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, teaching Jewish Leadership. Allison lives in Silver Spring, MD with her husband Ira Miller, who is also in the Jewish education field, and their two super cute daughters!

Elan Burman

Elan Burman

After moving back home to South Africa for a few years, Elan returned to the Washington DC area in 2014 where he was working as the Director of Planned and Major Giving for the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. In 2016, he decided to “return home” and assumed the role of Capital Campaign Director for Maryland Hillel, steering financial resource development efforts for our new building. Elan completed a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, majoring in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Cape Town. He holds a Masters Degree in Jewish Communal Service with an emphasis in fundraising from Brandeis University. In 2016, he completed his Masters in Information Systems degree through Northwestern University. He is married to Jackie and is the proud father of Dina and Ariel. In his spare time he enjoys cooking (well eating actually), swimming, reading biographies and current affairs, and volunteering.

Liz Donaldson

Liz Donaldson

Liz Donaldson has served as the Office Manager since 2007. She handles the administrative and financial needs of the office. Liz has been working within the Jewish Community since 1999. Prior to working at Maryland Hillel, she was the Office Manager at the Bernice Rabovsky Religious School at Congregation B’nai Tzedek in Potomac, MD. Liz grew up in Maryland and went to UMUC. She looks forward to helping and interacting with parents, students and staff. Students enjoy her positive personality and friendly demeanor. In her free time, Liz enjoys quality time with her husband Jason, their two children and two adorable dogs.

Maddie Friedman

Maddie Friedman

Maddie is a recent graduate of The University of Texas at Austin (Hook ‘Em), where she received her B.S. in Public Relations with a Business Minor. Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, she spent her time involved in the local Jewish community, as well as her summers at URJ OSRUI. Maddie is excited to be joining the team at Maryland Hillel as the Special Events and Catering Coordinator. Maddie previously served as a Public Relations Intern at Beck Media & Marketing, working with technology clients on media outreach and awards nominations. In her free time you can find Maddie in the aisles of Trader Joe’s, front row at a country concert, or looking up plane fares for her next big adventure. Maddie looks forward to becoming a part of the Maryland Hillel community, and cannot wait to see what being a Terp is all about!

Shira Gabay

Shira Gabay

Shira Gabay is the Jewish Agency Israel Fellow (Shlicha) at The University of Maryland Hillel. Shira was born and raised in the center of Israel. After joining the Israeli Scouts Movement she served for two years as a commander in the Israeli Air Force. With a B.A. in Political science and Geography from the Hebrew University, Shira worked for the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, in the marketing department, bringing tourists to experience Israel. In her free time, Shira enjoys traveling, camping, extreme sports, and dancing, and love bringing her love of Israel to all students UMD!

Maya Guthman

Maya Guthman

Originally from Bethesda, Maya returned home to join the Maryland Hillel team as the Springboard Innovation Fellow. She recently graduated from Indiana University, where she studied Psychology, Political Science, and Jewish Studies. On campus, she was involved in IU’s Dance Marathon and panhellenic life. Maya also spent a semester abroad at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with the Nachshon Project. You can usually find Maya cheering on the Washington Capitals, in a corepower yoga class, or trying out the newest foodie spots in D.C.

Adir Hakakian

Adir Hakakian

Originally from Potomac, Maryland, Adir graduated from the Robert H. Smith School of Business with a double bachelor’s degree in Information Systems and Supply Chain Management. Adir has a passion for data and technology, and is excited to help Hillel leverage their Data accurately and efficiently. In his free time, Adir enjoys working out, playing basketball, watching Netflix and also cutting hair.

Noa Havivi

Noa Havivi

Noa grew up in the small town of Greensboro, North Carolina. She was very involved in Hillel during her time at UNC Chapel Hill, where she graduated in 2017 with degrees in Exercise & Sport Science, and Psychology. Noa is a college basketball fanatic, coffee addict, and all-star meal prepper. You can almost always catch her Yelping DC’s newest foodie places. Noa is incredibly passionate about Jewish camping, especially her home away from home tucked away in the mountains of Georgia, Camp Ramah Darom, and is so excited to bring her passion for Jewish life to UMD!

Avital Hirschhorn

Avital Hirschhorn

Avital made Aliyah with her family at the age of 10, from Baltimore, MD to Bet Shemesh. At the age of 15, her family moved once again, this time to Neve Daniel. After high school, Avital chose to do Sherut Leumi, a National Service program for religious girls. Avital worked with holocaust survivors in Jerusalem as a friend and companion. The following year Avital studied at Midreshet Nishamt, and went on to study at Bar Ilan University, where she received her BA in Logistics and Management. Avital has been studying at Matan, a Women’s Institute for Torah Studies in Jerusalem and is a certified Kallah Teacher. She enjoys being outdoors, finding interesting recipes on Pintrest, DIY projects, and spending time with her husband, Yonaton, and their two precious girls, Nava and Tamar. Avital always keeps her door open for students, enjoys meeting new faces, and is always excited to plan the next big BBQ!

Rabbi Yonaton Hirschhorn

Rabbi Yonaton Hirschhorn

Rabbi Yonaton Hirschhorn was born and raised in Neve Daniel, Israel. After high school he joined the Hesder program, and studied at Yeshivat Otniel and Yeshivat Bat Ayin. Yonaton joined the IDF in 2008, and served as part of the Golani Brigade. When Yonaton finished the 5 year Hesder program, he began teaching at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh in the Old City. After teaching at Netiv Aryeh, Yonaton went on to teach at MATARA, a Jewish therapeutic boarding school for teenage boys, Bnei Chayil High School for boys, Midreshet Darkaynu, and Midreshet Moriah. For the past two years, Yonaton has been running and teaching an evening Beit Midrash program for youth in Neve Daniel, “Mevakshei Panecha”. When Yonaton is not learning or teaching Torah, he enjoys watching and analyzing movies, watching TED talks (one day he will be giving his own!), and hiking the beautiful land of Israel. Yonaton loves being behind the grill and cooking up delicious meals for students almost as much as he loves teaching! Yonaton is the proud husband of Avital, and his two beautiful girls, Nava and Tamar.

Ari Israel

Ari Israel

Rabbi Ari Israel is in his twenty second year as a Hillel Executive Director in College Park. In addition to Rabbinic ordination, Ari has Masters Degrees in Medieval Jewish History as well as Secondary Education. Ari is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, teaching Jewish Leadership, and also teaches for the Acharai Jewish Leadership Institute in Baltimore. He is married to Suzy and their six children reside in Silver Spring, MD. He is also an amateur photographer trying to pick up golf to avert a mid-life crisis.

MJ Kurs-Lasky

MJ Kurs-Lasky

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, MJ knows the true value of excellent ketchup, a great football team, and a strong Jewish community. After graduating from the University of Maryland in 2010, MJ worked at the non-profit KaBOOM! prior to joining the Maryland Hillel team in August 2015. In his spare time, he enjoys running, traveling, and cheering for the Terps!

Rabbi Miriam Liebman

Rabbi Miriam Liebman

Rabbi Miriam Liebman identifies as many things: native Detroiter, social change advocate, dance party enthusiast, and lifelong dreamer. She is thrilled to add Terp as her newest identity! A graduate of the University of Michigan and The Jewish Theological Seminary, Miriam has a passion for making Torah and Judaism relevant to people’s lives, whether sitting in a classroom or a coffee shop. After two years as a rabbinic intern at NYU’s Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life, Miriam is excited to devote her energy full-time to working with Jewish students in College Park!

Hannah Litman

Hannah Litman

Hannah is beyond excited to be back at her old stomping grounds at Maryland! Originally from small-town Wisconsin, where the Jewish population was sparse, She found a home at Maryland Hillel as a student and is so excited to help provide the same for students now! Before joining the team, Hannah worked at the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and is still a huge advocate. She coordinates alumni engagement and fundraising and can’t wait to connect with fellow Terps. If she’s not on campus, you can probably find Hannah at Cava!

Rashel Maikhor

Rashel Maikhor

Rashel graduated from UMD in 2017 and received a B.A. Honors in Communication with a minor in International Development and Conflict Management. She recently finished a one-year fellowship as the Leadership Initiatives Fellow at the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. Her passions for social change and Judaism have allowed her to lead and participate in Alternative Break trips, serve as a mentoring coordinator for underserved youth, and devote her professional career to becoming a strong Jewish communal professional. Rashel was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and grew up in Boca Raton, Florida, after her family immigrated in 1999. She loves adventure, travel, dance, and learning about new cultures. She recently got engaged to her fellow Terp sweetheart at Trader Joe’s!

Talia Orencel

Talia Orencel

Talia Orencel is the Director of Engagement and Social Justice at The University of Maryland Hillel. Originally from Argentina, but grew up in Maryland, Talia is a proud Terp Alumni who joined the Maryland Hillel team in 2015. She runs the Tzedek and Hillel Greek Life Fellowship, coordinates small and large scale social justice programs, and has staffed several Alternative Break and Birthright Israel trips. After receiving an MPA in Non-Profit Management from George Mason University, Talia served 2.5 years in the Peace Corps in Ecuador working on women and youth empowerment projects. She has always been a strong activist for social change in the local and global community, and enjoys bringing that energy for Tikkun Olam to her students here at Maryland Hillel!

Annie Prusky

Annie Prusky

Annie is thrilled to join the team as the Springboard Education Fellow, exploring and getting excited about Jewishness with Terps of all backgrounds. A Philly native, Annie moved to Rhode Island to attend Brown University where she was deeply involved with the Jewish community via Brown RISD Hillel and developed a passion for crafting accessible, fulfilling, and community-driven Jewish experiences. A lover of language, experimentation, justice, and pluralism, Annie knows that coffee milk, water ice, and identity—like Torah—always have deeper meanings.

Rabbi Elie Schwartz

Rabbi Elie Schwartz

Rabbi Elie Schwartz is originally from Cleveland, OH, and a die-hard Cavs fan. Rabbi Schwartz spent two years studying at Yeshivat Sha’arei Mevaseret Zion and a third year at Yeshivat Keren B’Yavneh. After Israel, he attended Yeshiva University where he graduated cum laude with a BA in Philosophy. He then completed semikha at RIETS and completed his masters in Medieval Jewish History from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. He has served as the interim assistant Rabbi at Congregation Ohab Zedek on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, and as an OU-JLIC Fellow at Queens College. For the past two years, he has been a Fellow of the YU Torah Mitzion Kollel in Chicago, where he has had the privilege to spend time furthering his learning while also creating innovative educational programming for the entire Jewish community. Rabbi Schwartz has many interests ranging from quantum physics to politics. In his spare time he enjoys reading and listening to podcasts at 2x speed, and is always looking to learn something new. Rabbi Schwartz looks forward to both learning and getting on the court with the rising stars of the UMD community!

Miriam Schwartz

Miriam Schwartz

Miriam Schwartz is originally from Great Neck, NY. She spent a year studying at Migdal Oz and attended Stern College for Women. She was a fellow at the Legacy Heritage Jewish Educators Project, a program that trains Jewish educators through courses in education, psychology and Judaic studies, as well as intensive fieldwork in classroom settings. Miriam was an OU-JLIC Fellow at Queens College and the co-director of Student Activities. She completed her Masters in Jewish Education from the Azrieli School of Jewish Education and is still pursuing a masters in Bible at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. Miriam loves watching the West Wing and Shark Tank, reading, and cooking different ethnic cuisines. She also does Tai Chi and Yoga (and can sometimes convince Rabbi Schwartz to join her). She loves to cook delicious food for her husband, and especially her students! Miriam and her husband, Elie are so excited to become part of the UMD family!

Benjamin Shedlo

Benjamin Shedlo

Benjamin grew up in Baltimore, and recently moved to the Kemp Mill area where you can usually find him walking his adorable Border Collie mix, Patches. He graduated from the University of Maryland in May 2018 with a degree in Sociology. During his time at Maryland he was as an undergraduate teaching assistant for animal science courses, and was involved in many extracurricular activities such as DUNK, and other programs hosted by Maryland Hillel. Benji is so grateful for all the opportunities that Maryland Hillel provided him during his time at UMD, and he is so excited to be able to provide the same experiences to current UMD students